[xubuntu-users] 18.04 destroying my M.2 SSD

[don subscribe]

When Xubuntu became available as download from xubuntu.org I installed
it to a new Asus motherboard with Samsung 250Gb M.2 960 evo SSD.  The
usb install took < 3.5 minutes.  Additional installs included i386 libs
for my backup software and openssh-client/server, iotop.  I only have a
basic xubuntu install. 

My hdd light never stops blinking with activity, every 2 sec.  I logged
disk io with iotop for as much as 12 hours.  I was alarmed to see that
fstrim -av after 12 hours shows 211 Gb trimmed.  I wonder how long this
SSD will survive in that box?

iotop shows r/w/ [jbd2/nvme0n1p2-] which is journaling for ext4 for
08:50:21, 08:50:27, 08:50:33, . . .n with imbeded kworker threads during
these times, which show 0.0/Bps.

I have reached the end of the internet in searches to solve this
problem.  I have searched at least 3 days/wk for the last month for
solutions & have tried some to no avail.  I have been an avid Xubuntu
user since 2006 and now have 5 Xubuntu boxes here.  When new LTS
releases are introduced I use Aptik to perform clean installs on all my
computers.

It pains me now to look for another Linux distribution, but this is
where I am at this point in time.
(I may try format to ext3 and install).  During my solution searches,
this problem arises back to Ubuntu 10.

Any Ideas?

Note: Installing 16.04 has same results on that box.
Samsung 960 evo was updated w/latest firmware which was already intalled.
I am writing this email on Asus M.2 box with an older motherboard and
M.2 SSD which has NO blinking hdd.  (imagine that! go figure)?